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26 Sep 2008
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can reduce the risk of menopausal women developing gout, according to a new study.
The research, published in the journal Arthritis Research and Therapy, was carried out by staff from the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada, based in British Columbia.
It looked at almost 8,000 females and found those who used HRT during the menopause had nearly a quarter (24 per cent) less uric acid in their bodies.
Additionally, the effects of the hormone therapy seemed to last, with women who had taken HRT and then stopped still having 13 per cent less uric acid.
High levels of uric acid - which causes the joint condition - often rise during the menopause, the Telegraph notes.
Hyon Choi, from the academic institution and part of the team who carried out the study, said: "Interestingly, administration of oestrogen therapy to men has been shown to decrease serum levels of uric acid."
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